Fisher
Probationary Member
- 6
- 0
- Nov 25, 2006
-
Midvale,
New Jersey
Hello folks,
New to the group (turned onto you guys from a import racer fan/friend who runs VW). Out of circumstances that were beyond my control, I had somehow came into ownership of a 90
Eclipse GS. Actually, my last car finally died, and I needed wheels in the worse way.. I picked this one up for a whopping $78.00.
Vin: 4A3CS44RXLE016413
Odo: 164296 WTF
Ok, before I ask the question, heres the list of "Known" issues with the ride.
1.) Needs both front transaxles (they both click as I make turns)
2.) Needs suspension work (car bottoms out too easily)
3.) Needs a Catalytic Converter (car has some sort of performance exhaust w/resonator, but no cat... Won't pass NJMVC inspection that way....)
4.) Pass side headlight won't flip up (budges a little, had to hand crank it up)
5.) E-brake won't hold for nothing.
6.) Tires (including a spare)
7.) Shows almost no oil pressure at idle (actually when I come to a stop, it slowly drops to almost nothing until I give it gas, is this normal????)
8.) Drivers side corner parking light lens.
9.) Hatchback needs new gas support struts.
And of course, there are issues with paint. There is no rot on this car however, and the interior is in rather ok shape, needs the headliner rehung, and a couple small interior pieces for the inside replaced (mainly the access covers for the rear struts?)
Ok, the question I have is this.. Is it worth trying to turn this car around? The reason I ask is because I have been known to turn cars around. The last one, an 87 aries K, with 78,000 was literally on the hook of a wrecker, on its way to junk 5 1/2 years ago, when I bought it, and turned it around. Got 5 years out of her, and another 60,000 before her aluminum valve head warped, and I deemed the car not worth a major overhaul..
I drive this car now, and its been running very well. Sometimes 2nd and 3rd gear can be a bit finnicky if your too impatient, but otherwise she has lots of power (spun her wheels on a couple of occasions). I haven't detected large amounts of blow-by (I will check the oil again in the morning since I did put close to 120 miles on her friday night).
Since I am not familiar with imports (all my previous cars where Ford/Chevy/Dodge) this is new and uncharted territory for me. I did purchase the Haynes manual for this vehicle, though originally I wasn't planning on keeping the car. However, after about 2 weeks of fun (and a whole lot of comments from friends about me driving a DSM, and how its so "not me") and am seriously thinking of turning this one around.
My goal isn't to create a quarter mile car for Englishtown, but what I am thinking of is something somewhat fast, which handles well, looks and sounds good (both exhaust note and musically) and is reliable.
And, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story"
Apparently this DSM was last driven regularly back in 2003. Having cleaned out the car, and talking to some people who are related to one of the previous owners, I was able to piece this together.
Its last oil change was back in mid-2003. According to the sticker in the window, we still haven't hit the "3,000 miles" that the sticker claims is the next time the car was due. Apparently, the car changed hands for a bit, but wasn't run. Then it was scrapped (or slated for scrapping.) Someone else bought it (as evidenced by a receipt from the auto scrapper, which let the car go for $100) and pulled it back out of the scrap line. From there, it sat behind a mechanics garage for a bit, before the previous owner lost interest (didn't want to buy a set of ignition wires to make her run) so gave the title to the mechanic to "scrap again". Only the mechanic decided to put wires in it for whatever unbeknownst reason, and the car sat, some more. Word got out on the street last month that I needed wheels in the worst of ways, and this mechanic (who I tow for, yes I drive wreckers) told me "She Runs, don't know for how long.. $78.00 (the cost of the wire set) and you can tow it out of here." I dropped the cash, loaded her on the truck, and away we went.
Either this car is going to die in another month, or she'll live for quite some time. (I have a knack for finding good hearted cars, that were abused by their previous owners, and then left for dead.)
But I wanted the opinion of folks who are well versed in the vehicle type. With over 160,000 miles (and 4 previous owners that are known, not to mention the scrapper and the mechanic) Does this car still have a future?
Be as brutally honest as you want. I am from New Jersey, my skin is thick, and I have heard it all at one time or another...
Fisher.
New to the group (turned onto you guys from a import racer fan/friend who runs VW). Out of circumstances that were beyond my control, I had somehow came into ownership of a 90
Eclipse GS. Actually, my last car finally died, and I needed wheels in the worse way.. I picked this one up for a whopping $78.00. Vin: 4A3CS44RXLE016413
Odo: 164296 WTF
Ok, before I ask the question, heres the list of "Known" issues with the ride.
1.) Needs both front transaxles (they both click as I make turns)
2.) Needs suspension work (car bottoms out too easily)
3.) Needs a Catalytic Converter (car has some sort of performance exhaust w/resonator, but no cat... Won't pass NJMVC inspection that way....)
4.) Pass side headlight won't flip up (budges a little, had to hand crank it up)
5.) E-brake won't hold for nothing.
6.) Tires (including a spare)
7.) Shows almost no oil pressure at idle (actually when I come to a stop, it slowly drops to almost nothing until I give it gas, is this normal????)
8.) Drivers side corner parking light lens.
9.) Hatchback needs new gas support struts.
And of course, there are issues with paint. There is no rot on this car however, and the interior is in rather ok shape, needs the headliner rehung, and a couple small interior pieces for the inside replaced (mainly the access covers for the rear struts?)
Ok, the question I have is this.. Is it worth trying to turn this car around? The reason I ask is because I have been known to turn cars around. The last one, an 87 aries K, with 78,000 was literally on the hook of a wrecker, on its way to junk 5 1/2 years ago, when I bought it, and turned it around. Got 5 years out of her, and another 60,000 before her aluminum valve head warped, and I deemed the car not worth a major overhaul..
I drive this car now, and its been running very well. Sometimes 2nd and 3rd gear can be a bit finnicky if your too impatient, but otherwise she has lots of power (spun her wheels on a couple of occasions). I haven't detected large amounts of blow-by (I will check the oil again in the morning since I did put close to 120 miles on her friday night).
Since I am not familiar with imports (all my previous cars where Ford/Chevy/Dodge) this is new and uncharted territory for me. I did purchase the Haynes manual for this vehicle, though originally I wasn't planning on keeping the car. However, after about 2 weeks of fun (and a whole lot of comments from friends about me driving a DSM, and how its so "not me") and am seriously thinking of turning this one around.
My goal isn't to create a quarter mile car for Englishtown, but what I am thinking of is something somewhat fast, which handles well, looks and sounds good (both exhaust note and musically) and is reliable.
And, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story"
Apparently this DSM was last driven regularly back in 2003. Having cleaned out the car, and talking to some people who are related to one of the previous owners, I was able to piece this together.
Its last oil change was back in mid-2003. According to the sticker in the window, we still haven't hit the "3,000 miles" that the sticker claims is the next time the car was due. Apparently, the car changed hands for a bit, but wasn't run. Then it was scrapped (or slated for scrapping.) Someone else bought it (as evidenced by a receipt from the auto scrapper, which let the car go for $100) and pulled it back out of the scrap line. From there, it sat behind a mechanics garage for a bit, before the previous owner lost interest (didn't want to buy a set of ignition wires to make her run) so gave the title to the mechanic to "scrap again". Only the mechanic decided to put wires in it for whatever unbeknownst reason, and the car sat, some more. Word got out on the street last month that I needed wheels in the worst of ways, and this mechanic (who I tow for, yes I drive wreckers) told me "She Runs, don't know for how long.. $78.00 (the cost of the wire set) and you can tow it out of here." I dropped the cash, loaded her on the truck, and away we went.
Either this car is going to die in another month, or she'll live for quite some time. (I have a knack for finding good hearted cars, that were abused by their previous owners, and then left for dead.)
But I wanted the opinion of folks who are well versed in the vehicle type. With over 160,000 miles (and 4 previous owners that are known, not to mention the scrapper and the mechanic) Does this car still have a future?
Be as brutally honest as you want. I am from New Jersey, my skin is thick, and I have heard it all at one time or another...
Fisher.
: which made me think it may be turbo. If its turbo it much more worthy of being fixed
Thanks again.
I am, but I think I am going to get a rebuilt unit. 
then, it started working partially.. 
) But I do want to clean her up a bit, as she is a blast to drive... Plus, this would get me familiar with the basics of the 4G63 platform. Once its "Done", then I will probably look for a 
